Military Service

[August]

Originally Posted by RickC Sniper

...and the 4 refers to rank. I was a Buck Sgt E5 when I got out..

They must have changed that designation at some point. By 1981 Sgt E-5 was a 2 designatior. E-1 to E-4 was a 1 designator.

Oh and how did you get from E-1 to E-5 in just a year?

[Growler]

Originally Posted by RickC Sniper

A video was made public a few years ago of this pinning ceremony and it caused an uproar so it is possible that they no longer do this.

Rick, I can tell you from primary source experience that these days, unequivocally, the possibility does theoretically exist that they no longer do this.

[MaddogK]

Originally Posted by August

They must have changed that designation at some point. By 1981 Sgt E-5 was a 2 designatior. E-1 to E-4 was a 1 designator.

Oh and how did you get from E-1 to E-5 in just a year?

Prolly something like meritorious advancement. They made me E-2 on completion of boot camp.

[Growler]

Originally Posted by MaddogK

Prolly something like meritorious advancement. They made me E-2 on completion of boot camp.

Shoot, a lot of times, E-2 outta boot happens almost as a given, and if you go in with any kind of real college behind you, you're getting rank on that, too. Still no higher than E-4, but that's still a helluva jump start.

[nikimcbee]

diabetic, end o' story.

[Dowly]

Would have served if I could've (knees).

Was stationed at "Konabeach" for 3 weeks in the winter of 2006, before I had to give up. Tried again the next winter at Kainuun Prikaati, lasted for 2 weeks before it got too painful to even walk without biting teeth.

Liked it a lot, probably would've ended up as trying out for a career there.

[Schroeder]

BTW have your knees improved since the surgery?

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

BTW have your knees improved since the surgery?

Never had the surgery. Saw another surgeon in January this year and he said there's no point to operate. I had a change of doctor for the 3rd time in as many years, this one is a real Auswitz guard type lady (no offence mean't etc.) but atleast she got me back to eating Prednisolon, which is the same stuff they put into the knees when they take out the fluid, so that seems to help.

All in all, I'm not doing bad, mornings are the worst, they're stiff and painful but I can cope that with painkillers. Usually I'm up and "operating" somewhat normally in 1-2 hours after waking up.

[Schroeder]

That sucks.

[Morts]

sadly, not yet, but im gonna get my draft/conscription papers in less than a year, and i plan on staying in afterwards

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

That sucks.

Well, like I said, I'm not doing bad. The experimental drugs we tried (and I'm still doing a drug called Humira) all help, but it's not perfect. I'm still constantly abit weary to give any weight especially to my right foot. But on good days, I can atleast run, something I haven't done since I was 10-12yo and I'm 25 atm, so I'm pretty happy with this.

[RickC Sniper]

Originally Posted by August

Oh and how did you get from E-1 to E-5 in just a year?

Feb 1970 to Dec 1971. Two months shy of 2 yrs. I got a so called "early out", dropping the last 2 months.

I attended this controversial school or NCO Academy as it was called.
http://www.ncoclocator.org/PAGE6.HTM

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Morts

sadly, not yet, but im gonna get my draft/conscription papers in less than a year, and i plan on staying in afterwards

Wait until you are in the armed forces and see what's what before you sign anything that you might regret later.

[Catfish]

Someone has to peel the potatoes, and clean the toilets.
Ever thought about that ?

Behind the one percent "cool" jobs like flying a Tomcat or serving in the Virginia, there are 99 percent of bore, cleaning up the mess, maintenance and administration in dusty offices

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Nope, no national guard here.

You left out Coast Guard and National Guard. I suspect there's an analog for those in every country, too.

I mentioned that Coast guard would be the navy since I wasn't sure how each country handled that separation, and the two services are similar enough to lump together.

As for National Guard guard, I considered that too, but as their are different forms of national Guard, And I didn't want some huge poll list, I was hoping people would select the version that fit them the best.